Chris Broussard is well-known as an NBA personality and analyst, and over the years, he has given LeBron James plenty of praise.
He has also gone on record as saying he considers the Los Angeles Lakers superstar to be the second-greatest player in the history of basketball, behind only Michael Jordan.
But it doesn’t mean Broussard is above criticizing James.
During an episode of “The Odd Couple,” which he co-hosts with veteran journalist Rob Parker, he said that the four-time MVP’s game isn’t that aesthetically pleasing – or at least not as much as some of the other all-time greats that casual basketball fans are familiar with.
Via Lakers Daily:
“During a conversation with Rob Parker, Broussard explained why James’ game ‘isn’t really that pretty.’
“‘As great as LeBron is, and both you and I have him as the second-best player ever to [Michael] Jordan, his — and I actually think, I think Jordan was just better, period — but I also think, Rob, particularly with the casual fan, I think one of the things that works in Jordan’s favor — and maybe right now in Steph’s (Stephen Curry) favor — is that their games are prettier than LeBron’s,’ Broussard said.
“Broussard continued.
“‘His game isn’t really that pretty,’ he said. ‘He’s a great passer, but he don’t pass like Magic [Johnson]. … Jordan flying through the air, he was so graceful, like Kobe [Bryant] on steroids. I think that stuff matters, and Steph, just from the range he shoots with, the handle he has. People talk about Kyrie [Irving], who I do think has the best handle ever in the NBA, but Steph’s up there. Steph’s handle is great. He can finish at the rim. … LeBron is like Karl Malone with point guard skills. … And he can shoot, but it’s just not as fun to look at and watch as some of these guys I mentioned.'”
There is no doubt that James’ game can be very pretty and exciting, mostly when he attacks in transition. But he has been criticized for using his physicality to bully opposing players too much while driving to the basket when the game slows down, to the point where many fans feel he gets away with traveling violations or offensive fouls.
In recent years, he has added a fadeaway jumper that is reminiscent of Jordan and Bryant, but he doesn’t rely on that shot nearly as much as those two other legends did.
James has become a polarizing figure over the last few years, and no matter how one feels about how “pretty” his game looks or the way he goes about producing his numbers, at the end of the day, his accomplishments will do the most talking.
